swallow



March 26, 1929. G. SWALLOW Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED. STATES PATENTQFF15 GERALD SWALLOW, OF BRIDGEPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND STATE FIBRE COMPANY, OF BRIDGEBORT, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATIONHOF 'DELA- TVARE;

INSULATION OF CONTACT RAILS OF ELECTRIC 'FAILWAYS.

Application-filed March 3Q, 1926. Serial No. 528,589.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved insulator for electric conductor rails or third rails as commonly used on some classes of electric railways. These rails are usually near the track level or the ground level and are ordinarily a source of dangerito workmen, to passengers and to the general public. I

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive insulator :which can extend longitudinally throughout the Entire length of the rails or throughout such portions of the length may be selected. In accordance with one phase of the present invention I provide an insulator adapted to fully protect thesides of the rail, that is, all except the contact surface thereof. In accordance with another phase of the invention I provide an insulator formed with longitudinally extending parallel sections and having suitable means for connecting the sections.

In the accompanyingdrawings I have shown various embodiments of the invention in order that the character thereof may be clear, but it is to be understood that the drawings are not to' be construed as defining or limiting the scopeof the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a sidelview of a sectionof conductor rail provided with an insulator embodying the invention;

Figs. 2 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing different embodiments of the invention adapted for covering the bottom and one side of a rail of T cross-section;

Figs. 7 to 11 are cross-sectional views showing other embodiments of the invention adapted to cover the bottom and both sides of a rail of T cross-section;

Figs.12 to 15 are cross-sectional views f showing different forms of insulators embodying the invention and adapted to be used with rails of the so-called umbrella cross-section; and

Figs. 16 and 17 are cross-sectionalviews showing different insulators embodying the invention and adapted to be used with a rail of the so-called dumb-bell?cross section.

Referringto Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 reppresents a conductor rail and 2 represents one of the seriesof supporting andinsulating brackets on whichthe rail is sup )orted.

Therail 1 is shown as being of dum -bell cross-section but any usual or; preferred section may beused, the form ofthe support ing bracket being changed to correspond. As illustrated the 1 bracket comprises a standard 2, an insulator 2 of porcelain or other suitable material, and a clamp 2 The rail itself and the supporting brackets therefor constitute no part of my present invention and, will not therefore be described in further detail. I

F igures 2 to 6 show insulators adapted to be used with conductorrails of. the standard so-called T cross-section. The ,insulators shown. in these figures are adapted to cover only the bottom and one side of thevrail, as for some classes of service this is all the proteotion that is required. The rail is shown and described as being in the upright position withthe toprsurfac e thereof serving as a contactsurface adapted to'b'e engaged by to conform to all or a partof the cross-sectional outline of the rail. In order to facilitate manufacture of the insulator, I'form it in two or more longitudinallyextending companion sections. These sections are preferably. suitably joined and they are ordinarily joined 1 by readily removable means which permit the sections to be connected together after they have been put' in V place on the rail;

The insulator shown in Fig. 2coinpri'ses two sectlons 3 and 4. The section 3 engages the upper outer portion ofthe rail flange atone side thereof and extends directly up- ,ward therefrom to cover the corresponding side of the rail head. The top contact surface of the 'r ail'is left exposed. The sec tlOIlA: covers the bottom oft-he railandis shaped to conform to the outerportion of therail flange at the opposite side thereof.

.The two sectionsiiand 4 are provided with:

downward. extending edges forming ,a joint at 5. These two edge portions are connected by means" of bolts 6 and nuts 7, both preferably formed of hard or vulcanized fibre or other suitable insulating material. It will be seen that the two sections 3 and 4 canbe separately formed and can be conveniently assembled in final position on the rail. After assembly, they can be secured to each other and to the rail by means of the bolts 6 and the nuts 7.

The construction shown in Fi 3 comprises a section 8 which covers one side and the bottom of the rail and a section 9 which engages the upper outer portion of the rail flange for the purpose ofholding the main section 8 in place. The two sections are provided with a horizontal joint at 10 and the edge portions of'the two sections are held together with bolts and nuts such as already described.

The construction shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Fig. 3, the parts 8 and 9 being similar respectively to the parts 8 and 9 except that the joint 10 extends doivnward instead of horizontally.

The construction shown in Fig. is similar to that shown in Fig. e except that'the oint between the sections 8" and 9 is at or near the center of the rail instead of being at one side thereof.

In the construction shown in Fig; 6 there is a section 11 covering one side of the rail and a section l2 covering the bottom of the rail. 11 third section 13 is provided which is similar to the section 9 shown in Fig. 8. The three sections 11, 12 and 13 are connected'together by means of horizontal joints 14 and 15; j v

The construction shown in Figs. 7 to 11 differ essentially from the construction shown in Figs. to 6 in that provisionis made for protecting bothsides of the rail including both sides of the head thereof. It will be seen that substantially all portions of the rail are covered except the top contact surface. I I

The constructions shown in Fig. 7 includes two sections 16 and 17 which are shaped to conform t'o-the respective upper outer portions of the rail flange and which extend directly therefrom toaster the corresponding sides of the rail liead. One of these sections, as for instance 17, is extended across'the bottom of the rail and a vertical joint is provided at 18.

The construction 'shownin Figure 8 is similar to that shown in Figure 7 except that the sections 16 and 17 are connected by means of a horizontal joint 18 V The construction shown Figure 9 is also similarto that shown in Fig. 7 except that the sections 16? and 17 are connected by a'vertical joint 18? which is located at or near the center of the rail instead of at one side thereof.

The construction shown in Figure 10 includes two sections 19 and 20 covering the two sides of the rail and a third section 21 covering the bottom thereof. These three sections are connected by means of horizontal joints 22, 22.

The construction shown in Figure 11 is similar to that shown in Figure 10 except that the sections 19, 20 and 21" are con nected by vertical joints 22, 22.

In Figures 12 to 15 I have shown insulators adapted to be used with a rail of umbrella cross section. It'wil be observed that in each case the insulator covers substantially all portions of the rail surface except the contact surface at the top.

In Figure 12 there are two sections 23 and 24 covering the two sides of the rail, and one of these sections, as for instance 21, is extended across the bottom thereof. The two sections are joined by means of a vertical joint 25.

The construction shown in Figure 13 is similar to that shown in Figure 12 except that the sections 23 and 24 are connected by means of a horizontal joint 25.

In Figure 1 1 I have shown an insulator comprising sections 26' and 27 coveringthe two sidesof the rail and a section 28 covering the bottom of the rail. These sections are connected by means of horizontal joints 29, 29.

The construction shown in Figure 15 is similar to that shown in Figure 1 1 except that the sections 26", 27 and 28 are connected by means of vertical joints 29.

.In Figures 16 and 17 I have shown an insulator adapted for use with a rail of dumb-bell cross section, and as shown it is assumed that the contact surface thereof is at the bottom.

Figure 16- shows an insulator comprising two similar sections 30 and 31 which are shaped to conform to the outline of the rail at the respective sides thereof. These two sections are connected by means of a vertical joint 32 which is shown as being located at or near the center of the rail.

The construction shown in Figure 17 is similar to that shown in Figure 10 except that a different type of joint is provided for the two sections 30 and 31. As shown, there is a separate joint strip which overlaps the two sections 30 and 31, being connected thereto by means of bolts and'nuts such as have already been described.

lVhat I claim is: i

1. An insulator for an electric conductor rail of standard T cross-section, comprising sheet vulcanized fibre shaped to conform to the bottom and outer edges of the flange and to extend directly from the upper outer portions of the flange to cover the sides of the head while leaving the top surface exposed.

2. An insulator for an electric conductor lit) rail comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending companion sections of sheet vulcanized fibre shaped respectively to conform to different portions of thecross-sectional outline of the rail, and means for joining the sections to hold them in place on the rail.

An insulator for an electric conductor rail comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending companion sections of sheet vulcanized fibre shaped respectively to conform to diilt'erent portions of the cross-sectional outline of the rail and readily removable means for joining the sections to hold them in place on the rail.

4. An insulator for an electric conductor rail comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending companion sections of sheet vulcanized fibre shaped respectively to conform to different portions of the cross-sectional outline of the rail, and readily removable means formed of insulating material for joining the sections to hold themin place on the rail.

5. An insulator for an electric conductor rail of standard T cross-section, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending coinpanion sections of sheet vulcanized fibre shaped respectively to conform to different portions of thecross-sectional outline of the rail, the said sections respectively extending directly from the upper outer port-ions of the flange to cover the sides of the head While leaving the top surface exposed.

6. An insulator for an electric conductor rail comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending companion sections of sheet insulating material shaped respectively to conform to diflerent portions of the cross-sectional outline of the rail, and means for joining the sections to hold them in place upon the rail.

GERALD 'sWALLoW. 

